Simpler legislation for the internal market is not just desirable; it can
become a reality, even in the short term. That is the conclusion drawn from
the first phase of the SLIM project, in which a working method was devised
that brought together experts from national administrations, users of the
legislation and the European Commission in an attempt to identify specific
measures for simplifying legislation in four areas: the Intrastat system of
statistics for intra-Community trade, construction products, the recognition
of diplomas and ornamental plants. In its report to the Council of Minister
and to Parliament the Commission describes the exercise as a positive one
but adds that the success of the entire operation will depend on the extent
to which the Council will be willing to review current legislation and adopt
the changes the Commission is about to propose on the basis of concrete
suggestions put forward by the SLIM teams. Emphasizing that overregulation
at national level is a major obstacle to the completion of the Single
Market, the Commission calls on Member States to simplify their
legislation.
"The work we have undertaken as part of the SLIM project," said Mr Monti,
"is encouraging. The results of the first phase have been fruitful, confirm
the validity of the method used and could well justify extending the project
to other areas. For its part, the Commission will vigorously pursue the aim
of simplifying and improving legislation, but invites the Council to commit
itself fully to the same task. Clearly, the success of the venture will
depend on the ability to accept change towards simpler legislation. We look
forward to the Council meeting on the internal market scheduled
for 26 November putting out a strong clear signal in favour of what is an
effective means of promoting competitiveness among firms: simplification."
The SLIM project was proposed by the Commission on 8 May following growing
calls from firms and industry for legislation that was effective but did not
impose unnecessary constraints. The Council endorsed the project in its
Resolution of 8 July on legislative and administrative simplification in the
field of the internal market, and the Commission was asked by the European
Council to report before the end of the year.
Summary of the results of the pilot project
The SLIM project is based on a new working method: small teams of experts in
the fields concerned scrutinize current legislation and draw up options for
simplification. The Commission then indicates how it intends to proceed in
order to implement the recommendations made.
1. Intrastat
Intrastat is a system for the compilation of statistics on intra-Community
trade since the abolition of checks at internal borders in 1993. It is
costly, both for firms and for administrations, and the statistics, which
take a long time to produce, are not of sufficient quality. Proposals for
simplification are aimed at:
. reducing data requirements to the strict minimum
. using a simplified goods nomenclature
. adjusting the collection system in such a way as to reduce the burdens on
business
. supporting measures designed to modernize the system.
The Commission is in favour of a simplified nomenclature, limited to 7 000
commodity codes (instead of the present 10,500), which would be operational
from 1 January 1998 onwards. It is in particular willing to adapt the
legislation in a way that enables Member States to introduce the single-flow
system if they wish to do so.
2. Construction products
All construction products are governed by a single Directive (89/106/EEC
of 21 december 1988) which requires adoption of technical specifications, be
they harmonized standards, European technical approvals or recognized
technical specifications. The fact that, eight years after the adoption of
the Directive, those standards have not been adopted shows that, in this
field, the Single Market has yet to become a reality.
The Commission will support measures that follow the SLIM team's guidelines:
in the short term, it will endeavour to improve the working procedures of
the European standardization bodies; in the longer term, its aim will be to
introduce a complete and coherent system for the construction sector as a
whole and re-examine the Directive with a view to aligning it with the
principles of the "New Approach" and to put an end to the binding link
between the implementation of the Directive and the existence of harmonized
standards.
3. Recognition of diplomas
A total of seven sectoral directives relating to doctors, nurses, veterinary
surgeons, dental practitioners, midwives, architects and pharmacists and
adopted between 1975 and 1985 are aimed at creating a "European profile"
for education. Contrary to the systems that, since then, have followed a
"horizontal approach", this system requires constant scrutiny of common
rules by advisory committees and, consequently, adjustment of national
standards.
In 1997 the Commission will put forward proposals to streamline the working
of the advisory committees and to simplify the updating of lists of diplomas
eligible for automatic recognition. It will also examine whether it would be
advisable to transfer the professions concerned to the general system
following the review of that system which is due in 1999.
4. Ornamental plants
The Community rules on the marketing of ornamental plants are contained in a
Directive that lays down minimum quality standards and conditions and
specifies supporting accreditation procedures and the keeping of
written records. Transposal into national law has given rise to numerous
inconsistencies and problems of interpretation. Rapid and uniform
implementation of the Directive has not proved possible, despite the
publication of an interpretative note by the Commission .
Opinion among the members of the SLIM working team was divided on whether
Community legislation was actually needed in this field. The Commission
will, by May 1997, come forward with proposals to clarify the Directive and
reduce the burdens on business. It will also look into whether the Directive
should be repealed.
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